Bianca
Andreescu provided updates on her return to the WTA Tour on her Instagram
stories. The former world No. 4 appeared on the entry list for the
French Open
and announced that her comeback would be the week before the second Grand Slam
of the year.
The
former US Open champion last played at the
Canadian Open in August 2023,
falling in the first round to Italian
Camila Giorgi (6-3, 6-2). Andreescu then
withdrew from the US Open due to a stress fracture in her back and did not
compete for the rest of the season.
Andreescu
returns after nine months
It was
expected that the Canadian would return at
Indian Wells in early March,
although she had acknowledged that she wouldn't be at her 100%. She ultimately
postponed her return until the clay swing. With Andreescu's presence confirmed
at
Roland Garros, she announced that she will return to the WTA Tour the week
before Paris, although the tournament was not confirmed.
Bianca Andreescu at 2022 French Open
The
French Open begins on May 26, and a week before, the WTA 500 Strasbourg Open
and the WTA 250 Rabat will be played. During her professional seasons,
Andreescu usually prepares for her participation in Roland Garros by playing
tournaments like the WTA 500
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and the WTA 1000 Madrid
Open and Rome Open, but she has never been to Strasbourg or Rabat.
On the
other hand, Andreescu commented that she will play in the
Olympic Games in
Paris, saying, 'It’ll be my first one. Something I’ve been dreaming for!!'
However, the Canadian will have to wait for a wild card, as she is outside the
top 300 in the Race to the Olympics and needs to be within the top 56 to
qualify.
Unless
Andreescu achieves an extraordinary run at Roland Garros, she will need one of
the two wild cards given to former Olympic champions or Grand Slam champions.
However, she also wouldn't have a guaranteed spot, as players like Simona
Halep,
Caroline Wozniacki,
Naomi Osaka,
Angelique Kerber, and Emma Raducanu are
some who could request a wild card to compete in Paris, as their participation
is not assured.